Coil binding machine

ABSTRACT

A rotary indexable spiral wire coil binding machine especially adapted for small diameter coils. The stacked perforated sheets are fed onto the carrier at one station, the sheets aligned at the next station, the spiral wire fed through the holes at a third station and the ends trimmed and bent inwardly at the next station by a pair of cutters which partially surround a coil turn at each end. A pair of curved plates located immediately outwardly from the stacked edges serve to lift the coil ends in their holes to permit adequate engagement of the cutters with the coil.

O Umted States Patent 1191 [111 3,

Pfaffle Dec. 9, 1975 COIL BINDING MACHINE 3,568,729 3/1971 Freundlich etal 140/92.7

75 I 1 mentor fig r i fg German Primary ExaminerLowell A. Larson y Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Harness, Dickey & Pierce [73] Ass1gnee: Hans Sickinger Company, Pontiac,

MlCh. [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Feb. 26, 1975 A rotary indexable spiral wire coil binding machine especially adapted for small diameter coils. The [2]] Appl' 553253 stacked perforated sheets are fed onto the carrier at one station, the sheets aligned at the next station, the [52] U.S. Cl. 140/92.7 piral wire fe hro gh he hole at a third station an [51] Int. Cl. B21F 35/02 he en s trimmed and bent inwardly at he next station [58] Field of Search 140/24, 92.3, 92.7, 92.8, y a p ir of cutters which parti lly surro n a il 140/ 103; 83/ 176, 268, 418, 907 turn at each end. A pair of curved plates located immediately outwardly from the stacked edges serve to [56] References Cited lift the coil ends in their holes to permit adequate en- UNITED STATES PATENTS gagement of the cutters with the coil. 7 1,243,353 10/1917 Snedeker 1411/92.? 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 1 of 2 3,924,664

US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,924,664

COIL BINDING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to machines for binding stacks of sheets with spiral wire binders, and particularly to devices which have rotating carriers for indexing the stacks to successive stations at which the sheets are aligned, the spiral binder inserted and cut, the ends trimmed and bent, and the bound stack ejected.

2. Description of the Prior Art Biel and Pfaffle US. Pat. No. 2,963,049 and Pfaffle US. Pat. No. 3,826,290 show machines of this general type. The end trimming and bending operations are accomplished by cutters which descend at opposite ends of the spine and partially envelop and hold turns of the binder so that the cutting blades may accomplish the trimming and bending.

While these prior devices are generally satisfactory, it has been found that, with relatively small diameter coils, there is very little space between the coil and the book edge to permit the cutter to enter and partially surround the coil. The cutter has a pair of slots for receiving the coil turn and an axially movable cutting blade which accomplishes the trim-cutting and bending. This cannot be accomplished satisfactorily if the coil does not enter the slot. The problem is aggravated by the fact that the coil ends outside the book spine will tend to droop.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved mechanism which will overcome the above described problem andinsure proper trimcutting and bending of the coil ends of spiral wire binders even for small diameter coils.

It is another object to provide a device of this character which is economical, easy to build and install, reliable in use, and adjustable for different stack sizes.

Briefly, the invention comprises, in combination with an indexing type of coil binding machine having a carrier with a plurality of spaced stations, a pair of cutter assemblies at opposite ends and outwardly of one of said stations for trim-cutting and inwardly bending the ends of a spiral wire binder in an apertured stack supported by said carriage, each cutter assembly having a pair of teeth movable inwardly to partially envelope a coil turn and a blade movably mounted between said teeth for severing and bending the coil end after the cutter assembly has moved inwardly, and a pair of curved guides placed in the path of the coil ends to be trimmed opposite said cutter assembly and so located with respect to the stack apertures in which said coil is disposed that said coil ends will engage and ride upon said gmides as said carrier indexes and thereby be lifted to the outsides of said apertures, thus exposing a substantial portion of each coil to be partially enveloped by said teeth and aligned with said cutting blade for severing and bending.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a rotary indexing type of spiral wire binder applying machine showing the invention applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a partially schematic view showing the prior art construction for trim-cutting and bending the coil ends to illustrate the problem which arises with coils of small diameter;

FIG. 3 is a partially schematic view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the principle of operation of the present invention; I

FIG. 4 is an elevational view looking in the direction of the arrow 4 of FIG. 3 and showing how the slotted cutter assembly teeth partially envelop the coil to be trim-cut and bent;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a typical machine installation of the invention, looking from one side of the machine; and

FIG. 6 is another fragmentary perspective view looking from the top of the machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The coil binding machine is generally indicated at 11 and comprises an elongated frame 12 on legs 13. Sheet piles 14 are placed at the entering or right hand end of frame 12 and are fed to the left. These piles may comprise booklets which are punched along their trailing edges 16 to receive a spiral wire binder. The piles are transferred by transversely spaced belts 15 to a set of vertically reciprocable fingers 17. The fingers rise under the trailing end 16 of each pile to stop the next pile and thereby create a space between the piles. A pusher carriage 18 advances the spaced piles through a runner 19 and then to a rotating depository or carriage generally and schematically indicated at 21. This carriage is intermittently rotated and equipped with radially arranged supporting plates and controlled jaws for gripping the sheet piles fed to them by carriage 18. The indexing movement of carriage 21 carries each pile from a first horizontal receiving station 22 to an aligning station 23, from there to a spiral binder inserting and coil severing station 24, thence to a coil trim-cutting and bending station 25 and finally to a second horizontal station which is the exit station 26.

Carriage 21 has eight sets of supporting plates and jaws spaced 45 apart which is equal to the indexing movement between stations. Thus there are five stations at which operations take place, the three remaining stations being for return of the plates and jaws. Additional details of the mechanisms at stations 23, 24 and 26 may be found in the above mentioned patents but are not pertinent to the present invention. However, it should be pointed out that at station 24 a coiling tool 27 forms the wire into a spiral binder generally indicated at 28 and feeds the binder through apertures 29 along edge 16. The feeding is normally such that the leading end 30 of the spiral (FIG. 6) goes somewhat beyond the stack 14 for a few turns. A shear 31 severs binder 28 from the remainder of the coiled wire issuing from tool 27, and normally there will only be a single coil turn projecting from stack 14 at that end.

The two trim-cutting and bending assemblies at station 25 are each generally indicated at 32 and are shown in detail in FIGS. 2 through 6. The assemblies are mounted on a transverse bar 33 which rocks in synchronism with the other parts of the mechanism. Each assembly 32 has a first arm 34 fixed to shaft 33 and carrying at its outer end a cam 35 with a diagonal slot 36 for operating the cutter blade. Another arm 37 is rotatably mounted on shaft 33 adjacent shaft 34 and carries at its outer end a fixed cutter member generally indicated at 38 in FIGS. 2 through 4. Cutter member 38 has a pair of spaced teeth 39 and 41 between which is pivotally mounted a movable cutter blade 42. The lower end 43 of fixed cutter member 38 is convex, with the lower end 44 of movable cutter blade 42 being in alignment with this convex edge 43. One side 45 of cutter blade 42 is closely adjacent side 46 of tooth 41 to achieve a shearing action when blade 42 is swung, thus trim-cutting a turn 47 of coil 28. The other side 48 of movable cutter blade 42 is spaced from its facing side 49 of tooth 39. The space thus provided permits inward bending of the portion 51 of turn 47 after this turn has been trim-cut at the facing surfaces 45, 46.

Teeth 39 and 41 are provided with downwardly open slots 52 and 53 respectively at their lower ends so that the teeth may partially surround or envelop turn 47 of coil 28. This is necessary in order that movable cutter blade 42 may fully engage turn 47 and that the portions of the coil on either side of blade 42 will be fully supported for the cutting and bending operation. During this operation, blade 42 moves axially in one direction with respect to coil 47. In some cases, it may be possible to provide only those portions of teeth 39 and 41 which oppose this axial movement of blade 42 and eliminate those portions of the teeth away from which blade 42 moves during its cutting and bending operation. With such a construction, teeth 39 and 41 would not be slotted but would still have to partially surround or envelop turn 47.

A helical coil compression spring 54 (FIG. 6) is disposed between each cam 35 and the outer end of arm 37, so that movement of cam 35 toward COII 28 Will cause cutter member 38 carried by arm 37 to also move in the same direction. Each arm 37 carries an L-shaped extension 55 which is engageable with a transverse stop bar 57'when cutter member 38 has reached the desired limit of its approaching movement toward COlI 28 This movement may be adjusted by set screws 56 carried by extensions 55. When arms 37 have been stopped, fixed cutter members 38 have supposedly partially envel oped turns 28 of the coil sufficiently to permit movable cutter blades 42 to carry out their cutting and bending operations. The upper ends of blades 42 carry cam follower rollers 58 disposed in cam slots 36. Continued rotation of shaft 33 after cutter members 38 (carrying blades 42) have stopped will cause rollers 58 to ride in diagonal slots 36, thus rocking blades 42 with resp to cutter members 38, springs 54 permitting the relative movement between arms 34 and 37 to take place. After blades 42 have completed their strokes, trim-cutting and bending portions 51 of turns 47, shaft 33 W1" be rocked in the opposite direction. This Wlll rock blades 42 back to their original positions, and as arms 34 continue to be lifted, portions 59 on cams 35 WIIICI'I extend under arms 37, will lift these arms. Carriage 21 will then be advanced to bring the next stack 14 nto station for the same operation.

Cutter assemblies 32 may be provided with additional components not described here because they do not directly pertain to the present invention. For example, a locating element indicated partially and schematically in dot-dash lines at 61 in FIG. 2 may becarned along with fixed cutter member 38, this locating element having a downwardly facing V-shaped recess 62 for'engaging coil 28 immediately adjacent the cutter and thereby properly locating it in a lateral direction.

The problem which arises with respect to COllS 28 of relatively small diameter is illustrated in FIG. Because of the size of apertures 29 in stack 14 with respect to the coil diameter, the force of gravity WIII naturally tend to hold coil 27 at the bottom of apertures 29, thus making available only a small portion of turn 47 to be partially enveloped by fixed cutter member 38. Thus, turn 47 will not be properly supported by member 38, nor will movable cutter blade 42 be able to fully engage the necessary portion of turn 47 to achieve the trim-cutting and bending objects.

According to the invention, this problem is overcome by providing a pair of coil end guides 63 and 64 at opposite ends of the coil at station 25. Each guide has'the form of a flat slightly curved shoe plate, the forward end 65 (FIG. 3) being bent downwardly, that is, toward the center of rotation of carriage 21. The plates are in fixed position so that as each coil 28 approaches from station 24, its ends will ride up onto plates 63 and 64. The guides will hold the coil ends outwardly as far as possible with respect to apertures 29, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, when cutter members 38 descend, they will be able to penetrate deeply enough into the coil as to permit blades 42 to carry out their functions.

The means for mounting guides 63 and 64 comprises a transverse shaft 66 adjacent the shaft 33. A pair of arms 67 are adjustably secured to shaft 66 by means of clamping portions 68. The clamping portions permit the armsto be adjusted longitudinally along the shaft as well as to be rotated so as to accommodate different lengths and widths of stacks 14. Blades 63 and 64 are secured to the outer ends of these arms. More particu- I larly, the guides are generally rectangular shape, their outer edges 68 being secured to arms 67. The arms are so positioned that the inner edges 69 of guides 63 will be closely adjacent the edges of stack 14 when the latter reaches station 25. The forward portions of blades 63 and 64 are slightly curved as seen in FIG. 3, but the main portions may be relatively flat and so positioned that, after the trim-cutting and bending has taken place at station 25, the binders will be able to pass over the guides toward the next station.

In order to prevent snagging of the coil end 30 which projects from the end of binder 28 remote from tool 27, the portion 71 of edge 68 on the guide 63 at this end of the station is formed in a sloping fashion as seen best in FIGS. 5 and 6. This is because end 30 may at times extend some distance out from the stack 14, sloping edge portion 71 insuring that the turns of coil end 30 will ride up onto the guide surface;

In operation, guides 63 and 64 will be previously adjusted to the proper positions for supporting the coil ends in the manner shown in FIG. 3. As each coil 28 with its stack 14 reaches station 25, the coil ends will ride up onto the guides and be held in the position shown in FIG. 3, in readiness for the approach of the cutter assemblies. As cutter members 38 approach turns 47, they will be able to reach the proper position for satisfactory trim-cutting and bending by blades 42. Guides 63 and 64 will prevent inward movement of the coil ends even if members 38 touch the coil as they approach their final position. Blades 42 will swing about their pivots and move axially with respect to the coil due to the motion of earns 35 with respect to followers 58. Retraction of the cams and continued return movement of arms 34 will retract arms 37 which carry the cutter assemblies. Carriage 21 will then be indexed, the coil ends riding on guides 63 and 64 until they clear the guides.

I claim:

1. In combination with an indexing type of coil binding machine having a carriage with a plurality of spaced stations, a pair of cutter assemblies at opposite ends and outwardly of one of said stations for trim-cutting and inwardly bending the ends of a spiral wire binder in an apertured stack supported by said carriage, each cutter assembly having a pair of teeth movable inwardly to partially envelop a coil turn and a blade movably mounted between said teeth for severing and bending the coil end after the cutter assembly has moved inwardly, and a pair of curved guides placed in the path of the coil ends to be trimmed opposite said cutter assembly and so located with respect to the stack apertures in which said coil is disposed that said coil ends will engage and ride upon said guides as said carrier indexes and thereby be lifted to the outsides of said apertures, thus exposing a substantial portion of each coil to be partially enveloped by said teeth and aligned with said cutting blade for severing and bending.

2. The combination according to claim 1, said guides comprising a pair of flat plate-like shoes having inner edges closely adjacent the stack, the forward portions of said shoes being curved slightly inwardly to permit the coil ends to ride up onto the outer surfaces of the shoes, and means for adjusting the shoes so that the outer surfaces will hold the coil ends as far outwardly as possible with respect to the apertures in the stack.

3. The combination according to claim 2, further provided with means for adjusting the inner edges of said shoes in the direction of the coil axis, whereby stacks of different widths may be accommodated.

4. The combination according to claim 3, said lastmentioned means comprising a fixed transverse shaft, and a pair of arms adjustably clamped to said shaft and capable of rotary as well as axial adjustment, said shoes being carried by the outer ends of said arms. 

1. In combination with an indexing type of coil binding machine having a carriage with a plurality of spaced stations, a pair of cutter assemblies at opposite ends and outwardly of one of said stations for trim-cutting and inwardly bending the ends of a spiral wire binder in an apertured stack supported by said carriage, each cutter assembly having a pair of teeth movable inwardly to partially envelop a coil turn and a blade movably mounted between said teeth for severing and bending the coil end after the cutter assembly has moved inwardly, and a pair of curved guides placed in the path of the coil ends to be trimmed opposite said cutter assembly and so located with respect to the stack apertures in which said coil is disposed that said coil ends will engage and ride upon said guides as said carrier indexes and thereby be lifted to the outsides of said apertures, thus exposing a substantial portion of each coil to be partially enveloped by said teeth and aligned with said cutting blade for severing and bending.
 2. The combination according to claim 1, said guides comprising a pair of flat plate-like shoes having inner edges closely adjacent the stack, the forward portions of said shoes being curved slightly inwardly to permit the coil ends tO ride up onto the outer surfaces of the shoes, and means for adjusting the shoes so that the outer surfaces will hold the coil ends as far outwardly as possible with respect to the apertures in the stack.
 3. The combination according to claim 2, further provided with means for adjusting the inner edges of said shoes in the direction of the coil axis, whereby stacks of different widths may be accommodated.
 4. The combination according to claim 3, said last-mentioned means comprising a fixed transverse shaft, and a pair of arms adjustably clamped to said shaft and capable of rotary as well as axial adjustment, said shoes being carried by the outer ends of said arms. 